Canada: First Nations file lawsuit against Pacific NorthWest LNG

Two Gitxsan Nation hereditary chiefs filed fourth federal lawsuit against the Petronas-led multi-billion dollar Pacific NorthWest LNG project, claiming the export terminal is an infringement of their Aboriginal fishing rights. 

Charlie Wright with the Luutkudziiwus house group, and Yvonne Lattie with the Gwininitxw house group, noted in a statement on Tuesday that, combined with three others, their lawsuit threatens to derail the gas project amid a global glut in LNG, making it “a very risky investment.”

“The Canadian government’s decision to approve this project did not respect our fishing rights protected under the Canadian Constitution. We were not consulted,” said Yvonne Lattie.

The Aboriginal plaintiffs are seeking to overturn the Trudeau cabinet’s decision approving the project.

During the government’s consultation over the project’s impacts, via the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA), the hereditary chiefs say they were very keen to participate, but were either offered grossly inadequate funding to give technical input, or were told they were not directly affected by the project.

The LNG terminal would be situated in the critical salmon rearing habitat at Lelu Island near Prince Rupert.

Extensive salmon counts conducted since 1999 show the numbers have dropped by nearly 90 percent compared to 1960s.

“We need to look at salmon enhancement, not salmon destruction. We need to save what’s left. The LNG project could ruin this sacred resource. We have to protect it,” Lattie said.

Richard Wright, a spokesperson for Luutkudziiwus hereditary chief Charlie Wright says the federal government also relied on the B.C. government to do much of the leg work to find Aboriginal buy in for the project. But much of that process of signing up First Nations was done secretively and without proper consultation, he said.

On Oct.27, judicial reviews were also filed in federal court by the Gitanyow and Gitwilgyoots tribes, and the SkeenaWild Conservation Trust.

The proposed facility will comprise an initial development of two LNG trains of approximately 6 million tons per annum each, and a subsequent development of a third train of approximately 6 mtpa.

Petronas, Sinopec, JAPEX, Indian Oil Corporation and PetroleumBRUNEI are all shareholders in Pacific NorthWest LNG and the associated natural gas supply.

LNG World News Staff